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The Worst Kind of Knowledge
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"They found signs of a struggle, and traces of powerful magic," Minerva told him. "There were magical groundings in a circular pattern. A spell had been cast about half a day old," She was reading the parchment a stony faced Auror had left with her minutes earlier. The brilliant Phoenix perched on the armrest to her left looked at the letter then at his master across the room.
"It would take powerful magic to subdue her," Dumbledore's smile was wan. Minerva nodded as she refolded the letter. It was almost easy to keep the worry bottled up during the day. They'd each had practice before, before Voldemort had fallen. The students knew nothing, and only a select few teachers had any inkling that anything was wrong.
Minerva rose, leaving the parchment on the small couch, and stood next to Albus. He was looking at the crystals once more. Hers, his and three others glowed a soft blue color, indicating that everything was normal. The forth was dimly lit and glowed red. No one knew what that meant and no book in any library they'd consulted had any hint. The only thing they were certain of, was that she was alive somewhere. If she'd died, the crystal would have become clear, and ceased glowing.
Minerva reverently touched the portraits of the people whose lives the crystals were linked to. A tall woman with raven hair in a multitude of braids ending in little gold and blue beads looked up and smiled at her before returning to her book. The young man in the next picture studied a complex, working replica of the solar system and made tiny notes on a piece of parchment. He waved, his short, auburn hair shone in the afternoon sun which bathed the balcony he was sitting on. The woman in the third picture had her white-blonde hair cut chin length and held it back with a pair of silver clips. Currently she was reclined on the well worn couch in the picture, and was using a grey and white husky as a pillow. The fourth picture contained a young brunette woman with mirthful blue eyes. She waved cheerily from her perch on the ruins of an ancient wall.
Albus fingered the stone linked to the woman in the fourth picture.
"It's like she's hidden somehow. Or not in either the magical or muggle worlds," he mused. Albus sighed and placed a hand on Minerva's shoulder, "With all our knowledge and resources, we have only the barest idea of what's happened. We worry about the students knowing how to defend themselves against the dark arts, worry that they'll turn to the dark arts. But I think the worst knowledge is that which we do not have,"
The great bell sounded, announcing dinner. Minerva slipped her arm in his.
"We should go. You have to announce this years Halloween plans. And while I don't feel much like attending a party, the students will appreciate it,"
"You are quite right," he said patting her arm as they headed for the door of his office, "We cannot let ourselves be defeated. No doubt that is one of the reasons she was made a target rather than someone else. She is a powerful witch, Minerva. I have every confidence she will return to us," Inwardly, he was surprised that he actually believed what he'd said. Minerva nodded, but didn't look very convinced. Albus began running through a list of magical tool and artifacts which had circular grounding patterns and which might serve to hide someone. Severus Snape caught up with them as they were entering the Great hall.
"Headmaster, do you think it's safe to have a school event in Hogsmede?"
"Of course, Severus," Albus replied. The younger man scowled, apparently not sharing the headmaster's confidence.
"This school gets a little stuffy sometimes, it's good to get out and about. If you are worried about young Harry," Albus hid a smile as the muscles in Snape's cheek twitched at the mention of Potter's name, "he and the other students are going to be well looked after. After all, the faculty will be in attendance as well,"
Snape glowered and nodded once and went to sit at the head table. Finding that the only seat left was between Fleur and Nista Stonehoof, his scowl tightened. Fleur and Nista continued their bubbly conversation about something or other inane (hair care or something) and Snape did his best to ignore them. He then realized that THIS is what he'd have to complete with in his classes after the headmaster made his announcement. He groaned and glared at a few students who were looking at him strangely.